What is your teaching philosophy?

I work to help students grasp not just the necessary knowledge, but also the academic skillsets that will prove critical throughout their academic careers, allowing them to respond to new challenges with confidence. I believe it is important to guide students to their own "a-ha" moments; these moments lend the self-assurance and energy students need to move forward.

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

In a first session with a student, I might start by asking the student to tell me in their own words what material inspires confidence and what inspires uncertainty. Then, I might ask them how they have been doing with both their homework and their in-class quizzes and tests. I might then ask to go over portions of the test for which they earned full points, and others for which they missed points. I would ask them questions as to how they approached and then responded to each question. From there, I would ask questions that would help the student think about how they would handle troubling questions differently. If any gaps in knowledge were to present themselves, I would make sure to then work on a practice exercise and/or assign reading that would build their understanding, making sure to explain any difficult concepts in easy-to-understand language. Especially during a first session, I would be trying to get a sense of the student's particular learning style. As always, I would work to match the content of our time together with my assessment of the student's strengths and weaknesses. I would make sure to reiterate that students should feel comfortable asking questions of me at any time. By the end of the session, I would make sure to outline goals the student should work toward in time for our next session.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I think it is important to support students in their own learning process, rather than to simply tell them the correct answer or assign them material to memorize. If a student is struggling, I work to assure him or her that what they are facing is doable, and then I ask questions of them to prompt them to think about how to respond to their assignment step by step. While making sure that they have a clear understanding, I work to guide them to their own moments of realization, which gives them the confidence and skills to respond to new challenges.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would make sure to always be attuned to what is frustrating him or her, and I would work to give the student the tools to overcome any specific challenges. I would keep the student on task and on track, giving them both long-term and short-term goals that they would be able to achieve.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

I would start by going over any skills or concepts that underlie the more difficult concept. That way, I would ensure that the student has a grasp of the fundamental material, and from there, I might prompt them with questions to get them thinking about how to move from the simpler concept to the more difficult concept. That way, they are themselves making the right connections.